Feb. 14, 2008

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Sophomore Heather Bowman scored a game-high 20 points and freshman Courtney Vandersloot added 18 points, eight assists and five rebounds as the Gonzaga University women's basketball team rolled past visiting University of San Francisco 90-42 Thursday evening in front of 1,821 fans at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Senior Michelle Elliott and freshman Janelle Bekkering had 10 points apiece for the Bulldogs, who improved to 18-7 overall and 9-1 in West Coast Conference action. Necolia Simmons led the Dons, who are 13-11 overall and 4-5 in conference, with 17 points.

Gonzaga opened the contest hitting its first nine shots to build an impressive 23-6 advantage. Vandersloot missed the Zags first shot of the contest, a layup, at the 14:10 mark, but junior Maria Hassett pulled down the offensive board and made a short jumper to give GU the 25-9 margin.

San Francisco cut Gonzaga's lead to 12, 29-17, with 9:00 left in the first half, but Bowman made a layup which sparked the Bulldogs 15-3 run to close the half and give the Zags the 44-21 edge.

The Bulldogs dominated the second half by hitting an impressive 62.1% (18-29) from the floor. Gonzaga began the final stanza with a 20-6 run, which was capped off on a layup by Hassett.

The Bulldogs largest margin in the contest was 51, hit two different times. The last coming at 2:54 when redshirt freshman Tatriana Lorenzo made a layup to make the score 88-37.

Gonzaga grabbed more rebounds than San Francisco scored points. The Bulldogs finished the contest with 46 rebounds, 15 offensive. Bowman led the way with nine total.

Turnovers proved costly for the Dons, who committed 13 in the first half and 21 for the game.

The Bulldogs will host its final home game of the season on Saturday, Feb. 16 when it welcomes the University of San Diego to the McCarthey Athletic Center. Game time is set for 2 p.m.